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ICE names new leader of the Office of Investigations in New York City

NEW YORK - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary John Morton has named James T. Hayes Jr. as the special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in New York City.

As special agent in charge, Hayes supervises a cadre of special agents who enforce immigration and customs laws by conducting investigations in a variety of areas, including: narcotics, financial- and trade-related, gangs, intellectual property rights, human smuggling, and child pornography.

Hayes was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. "I'm excited to be returning home to New York City," said Hayes. "I've spent nearly 15 years working in Federal law enforcement throughout the United States, and I'm looking forward to using the experience I gained during those years to keep New Yorkers safe. I also look forward to working closely with the fine men and women of New York City's law enforcement community."

Prior to his appointment, Hayes served in a number of executive leadership positions, most recently as the director of the Office of Detention and Removal Operations (DRO) at ICE headquarters in Washington D.C. As DRO director, he oversaw 24 DRO field offices and more than 7,000 employees throughout the United States. He also served as chief of the ICE Counterterrorism Operations Section, acting chief of ICE's National Security Unit, and DRO Field Office Director for Los Angeles, Calif.

Hayes is a 15-year law enforcement veteran who began his career in 1995 as a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Del Rio, Texas. He transferred to California in 1977, and served as a deportation officer in Los Angeles, and as a special agent in Orange County. Hayes graduated from New York City's Xavier High School in 1992. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Park University. He is a member of the Senior Executive Service.

ICE's Office of Investigations plays a key role in maintaining the safety and security of the United States relative to international trade and commerce, financial markets, contraband, industrial and strategic parity, and immigration and border integrity. ICE uses its unified immigration and customs authorities to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations and other threats. ICE also works to deprive potential terrorists and transnational gangs from employing smuggling networks and methods to further their crimes against the United States.

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